Interlocking mechanism.



J. F. OHMER & W. G. ORTH. INTERLOCKING MECHANISM.

. APPLICATION FILED APR. 30. |9l5- 1,208,360. Patented Dec. 12,1916.

. 3 SHEET$SHEET 1 J. F. OHMER & W. G. ORTH. INTERLOCKING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR-30,1915- Patented Dec. 12,1916;

1. F. OHMER & w. (a. 0m.

INTERLOCKING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 30. 1915.

1,208,360. Patented Dec. 12,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

a-vwautm x UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. OHMER AND WILLIAM 03TH, OEIDAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO OHMER' FA 'BE REGISTER COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW' YORK.

rnzrnnmcmnenncnamsm Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1916.

Original application filed April 23, 1914, Serial No. 834,002. Divided'and this application filedApril 30,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN F. OHMER and WILLIAM Gr. ORTH, citizens of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Interlocking Mechanisms; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in taximetersand consists of mechanisms heretofore described in our pending application, serialiNo. 834,002, filed April 23, 1914, of which the present application for Letters Patent is a division.

The invention comprises certain interlocking mechanism through the agency of which certain operations of the setting mechanism and of the printing mechanism of taximeters are required to be performed in their order, one being locked while the other is in a condition for operation, as will be more fully described in the specification to follow read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 7

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation showing parts of the setting and printing mechanisms and elements of the interlocking mechanism, the flag crankbeing in an uprightposition and indicating that the cab is forhire; Fig. 2

is a sideelevation showing elements of the setting, printing and interlockingmech'anisms. In this position of" said locking mechanism the flag crank is elevated as in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the side of the machine opposite that shown in Fig. 2 showing elements of the setting, printing and interlocking mechanisms! In this position the flag crank iselevated as in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a detail elevation of the cam or lever, and features ofthe interlocking devices operatingin connection with'the settingmechanism; Fig. 5'isa detail view of elements of the interlocking-devices ofthe printing mechanism. In this position the flag crank is elevated as in Fig. 1. Fig. 6' is I a detail view of the actuating' gears-of'the Serial No. 25,066.

setting and printing mechanism with other elements; Fig. 7 is a detail View showing elements of the setting and interlocking mechanisms when the flag crank is in the lowermost position as in Fig. 6.

For the purposes of the description to fol low, it'has been deemed advisable to eliminate unnecessary parts of the setting and printing mechanisms from the drawings and to incorporate only so muchthereof as is necessary to a description of the interlocking devices which constitute the present improvements. To this end the shaft of the setting mechanism and the shaftofthe printing'mechanism are illustrated together with other incidental features to be referred to in the description. Afuller and more complete disclosure of other more remote features of the mechanisms of the taximeter is contained in our pending application referred to above. The term setting mechanism will betaken to mean that mechanism whereby an operative relation is established between the several banks of printing and indicating counters usually employed in such-machines and the'actuating mechanism for said counters. The primary elements of the setting mechanism is the shaft 1, hereinafter termed the setting shaft, and the flag'shaft or crank 2from which it is operated. The setting shaft 1 is subject to a movement to three positions by operating the Y crank or flag shaft; When the taxicab orvehicle upon which the machine is carried is for-hire, the flag crank stands upright and indicates such. The position of the parts are as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5, when the flag crank stands upright to indicate that the cab ,is for hire] W'hen hired, the setting shaft 1 is turned one-fourth of a revolution, lowering the flag shaft 2' to a horizontal position, and the third position is-that to which the settingshaft lmust be moved in orderto return it and the setting mechanism therewith to the first'or normal position when eachperiod of service is ended. This third position is given the said shaft by a one-half revolution'of the flag shaft or a one-fourth movement from the second position, as is more fully set forth in our pending application before referred to. 7

Theprinting mechanism is that through which statements'and ticketsor receipts are taken from the printingcounters and other devices to produce a concise record and receipt showing various data, such as mileage traveled, or distance covered, time consumed, amount of tariff charged, and other information necessary in machines of the fare register and recording type.

The setting shaft 1 and the printing shaft 10 in their operations are subject to certain interlocking or control mechanisms comprising a disk 3 mounted upon the setting shaft and having two shoulders 4; and 5. The shoulder 1 is instrumental in connection with a pawl 6 in preventing the setting shaft 1 and the mechan sm controlled thereby from being turned to the first or normal position from the hired or quarter turn position, and compels said shaft to be turned to the stopped or half turn position before it can be reset to normal position. The shoulder 5 likewise has a cotiperative relation with the pawl 6. hen the said setting shaft 1 is moved to the stopped or half turn position, the pawl 6 falls under the said shoulder 5. The said pawl 6 and other elements presently described are given over to the influence of a spring 7 which unlocks or affects the printing mechanism and permits it to be actuated, as will be more fully described. The pawl 6 is mounted on apivot pin 8 located on a convenient part of the frame work and another angular pawl 9 is mounted on the same pivot. The printing shaft 10 and the platen 11 actuated thereby are prime elements of the printing mechanism. In Fig. 1 of the drawings, a printing counter 12 is shown. It will be borne in mind that a taXimeter has several of these counters, as well as other printing devices. In the drawings, it has been deemed unnecessary to multiply illustrations. These elements, to-wit, the shaft 10, platen 11, and counter 12, together with other features allied thereto, are shown in the drawings and such illustrations in connection therewith as are suflicient for the purposes of this description.

The various details of the printing mechanism are more fully disclosed in our pending application before referred to. The said printing shaft- 10 carries a drive gear 13 in mesh with a. pinion 1st mounted on the pivot pin 8. The pinion 14 has a crank handle 15 by means of which the printing shaft 10 is actuated. A ratchet 16 is attached to said printing shaft. The pawl 9 has an overhanging tooth 21 which en ages a shoulder 17 on said ratchet 16 when said pawl 9 is free from the influence of the spring 7. A holding pawl 19 prevents any backward turning of the ratchet 16. The pawl 9 is further provided with a finger extension 20 which enables it to be raised by the hand to disengage the tooth 21 and thereby allow the printing devices to be oper ated independently of the setting devices, as

when the inspector or other authorized person desires to issue a statement from the machine. In this case, the projection 22 of said pawl 9 moves away from the pin 23 on the pawl 6. The pawls 6 and 9 normally move in unison owing to the pin 23 engaging the projection 2 and the leaf spring 37 eX- tending from the pawl 9 and engaging a stud 36 on the upper end of the pawl 6. The pawl 9 directly locks the printing mech anism. TVhen the setting shaft 1 is given the one-quarter turn, which as we have seen lowers tl e flag shaft 2 from the upright position to the horizontal position, the pawl 6 is drawn under the shoulder 41 of the disk 3 by the spring 7. This movement of said pawl 6 will not be sufficient to elevate the tooth 21 of the pawl 9 away from the ratchet shoulder 17 to permit the printing shaft 10 to be operated, but when the setting shaft 1 and therewith the disk 3 is moved to the one-half turn, the tooth 21 is completely freed from the shoulder 17 and the printing shaft 10 may then be actuated. The shoulder 4:, when in the path of the pawl 6, prevents the setting shaft 1 being returned to normal position. This can only be done after the said shaft has been given the one half turn. At this time, the pawl 6, as we have seen, is drawn under the shoulder 5 and the spring 7 lifts the pawl 9, the pin 23 on pawl 6 being instrumental in accomplishing this movement of said pawl 9. The printing shaft is then unlocked and the setting shaft may then be returned to the unhired or normal position. The pawl 6 is moved out of the path of the shoulder at to permit the setting mechanism to be returned to normal position by a cam 24 carried on the printer drive gear 13. This operation takes place at the completion of the print ing operation. The said cam 24 is adapted to engage a projection 25 on the lower end of the pawl 6 in eifecting such movement of said pawl.

The setting shaft 1 is returned to the normal position at the end of the operation of the printing mechanism by means of a segment gear 26 mounted on said setting shaft 1 and adapted to mesh with a segment gear 27 on the printing shaft 10. hen the setting shaft 1 has been given the one-half turn to the position shown in Fig. 6 wherein the setting shaft 1 has been given a half revolution from the upright position of the crank shaft, the gear 26 thereon is in a position to be engaged by the segment gear 27 on the printing shaft. At the time of this engagement or slightly prior thereto, the cam 2% on the driver gear 13 engages the projection 25 on the pawl 6 and moves said pawl from the shoulder 5 thereby unlocking the setting shaft 1. When the operation of the printing shaft 10 is completed, the gear 27 will have rotated the gear 26 thereby returning the setting shaft 1 to its normal position. Should the inspector or other person inadvertently or otherwise move the flag shaft 2 to the second or the hired position before elevating-the pawl 9, the setting'shaft and mechanism will be partially returned to position through the agency of the gears 26 and 27 when the printing shaft 10 is actuated. In order to prevent and guard the mechanism against such operations, the following interlocking mechanism is provided comprising a disk 29 mounted on the setting shaft 1. This disk carries a pivotal latch or cam 30, the pivot being at 31. The said cam or latch is under the influence of a spring 32 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and cooperates with a pin 33 on a lever34 pivoted at 35. The said lever 34 is adapted to engage the pawl 9 and to lock the tooth 21 against the ratchet shoulder 17 as is also shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. A spring 36 exerts an upward pull on said lever. When the setting shaft 1 is moved from the normal to the hired" position or one-quarter turn, the pin 33 on said lever 3a rides upon the cam portion of said latch 30 against the tension of the spring 36, until said pin rests upon the outer edge of said latch. When in this position, the lever 34 looks the pawl 9 and prevents the inspector or other person elevating the pawl 9 the finger piece 20 and operating the printing mechanism.

WVhen the setting mechanism, which includes the shaft 1, is moved from a normal to a hired position, or to that position in which the flag crank 2 is in a horizontal position,the pin 33 on the lever 34 rides upon the cam portion of the latch or cam 30 until it rests upon the outer periphery of said latch or cam 30. WVhen in this position, the lever 34: looks the pawl 9, as before stated. When the machine is operated by the travel of the vehicle upon which it is mounted, and

the setting mechanism is moved to its'third or stopped position preparatory to taking a printed record, the pin 33 will fall behind the cam latch 30 and will travel behind the same during the time the setting mechanism is being moved from its third to its normal position.

In order to prevent the setting shaft being returned manually to normal position during the printing operation, means are provided comprising a segment drum 38. This drum 38 is in operative relation with a projection or tooth 39 carried on an extended arm 10 of an angular lever 41. The lever 41 is fulcrumed at 12 and is normally under the influence of a spring &3. When the printing shaft is" in a normal position, the segment drum 38 lies out of the path of the projection 39 thereby permitting the roller 44 to ride in and out of'the recesses 15 in the disk 46. When the printing shaft is actuated, the drum 38 is moved into the path of the projection 39 thereby preventing the lever ll being rocked, the roller 44 riding in and out of the recesses 45. The disk 4.6 is mounted on the setting shaft 1 and has three recesses corresponding to the three positions of the setting shaft 1. At about the time of engagement of the gears 26 and 27, the drum 3S rides out of the path of the projection 39 and thereby unlocks the setting shaft. The drum 38 prevents the setting shaft being returned to normal position by any means other than the printing shaft.

Having described our invention, we claim.

1. In mechanism of the character specified, the combination with a setting shaft and a printing shaft, of different interlock ing means for said setting and printing shafts, the interlocking means for the printing shaft being under the control of the setting shaft, means comprising disengaging gears between the setting and printing shafts for returning said setting shaft to normal position after the printing operation of said printing shaft is concluded, means actuated by said printing shaft to unlock the setting shaft, and interlocking means to permit said last named shaft to be returned to normal position.

2. In mechanism of the character specified, the combination with a setting shaft, and a printing shaft, of locking evices for said setting shaft including disk and pawl, locking devices for said printing shaft including a disk and a pawl, the latter be ing normally under the control of the setting shaft through the first named pawl, means carried by said printing shaft for actuating said first named pawl to unlock the setting shaft at the conclusion of the printing operation of the said printing shaft, and gears interposed between the setting shaft and the printing shaft whereby the setting shaft is returned to normal position after the printing shaft has concluded its printing operation.

3. In mechanism of the character specifled, the combination with a setting shaft,

.and a printing shaft, of locking devices for said setting shaft including a disk mounted on said setting shaft, and a pawl cooperating therewith and adapted to lock said disk in the initial operative position of said setting shaft, locking devices for said printing shaft including a pawl having a one-way-moving connection with said first named pawl, and a ratchet wheel mounted on the printing shaft, said last named pawl being adapted to lock the printing shaft until the setting shaft has been given a full movement from normal position, and a cam carried by said printing shaft for actuating said first named pawl to unlock the setting shaft.

1. In mechanism of the character specified, the combination with a setting shaft adapted to be moved to two positions from the normal position thereof, and a printing shaft, of interlocking devices controlling said printing shaft until the setting shaft is moved to the second position from its normal position.

In mechanism of the character specilied, the combination with a setting shaft adapted to be moved to two positions from its normal position, of locking devices preventing said shaft from being returned to normal position from the intermediate one of said positions, a printing shaft, locking devices for said printing shaft actuated by the locking devices of the setting shaft to release said printing shaft when the setting shaft has been moved to the limit of its movement from said intermediate position, and gears interposed between the setting and printing shafts for returning the setting shaft to normal position by an operation of the printing shaft.

(3. In mechanism of the character specilied, the combination with a setting shaft and a printing shaft, of interlocking means controlled by the setting shaft and in turn controlling the printing shaft, means actuated by the printing shaft for returning said setting shaft to normal position, means controlled by said printing shaft for unlocking the setting shaft before said setting shaft can be returned to normal position, and means for locking said setting shaft from the printing shaft during the initial movement of said printing shaft.

7. In mechanism of the character specified, the combination with a setting shaft and a printing shaft, said setting shaft being movable to three positions, one being the normal position, the other being a quar ter turn from the normal position or that to which said setting shaft is moved when the vehicle is hired, and the other being a half turn from the normal position, or that to which said shaft is turned when the period of hire is completed, of interlocking means for the printing shaft actuated by the setting shaft to unlock said printing shaft when said setting shaft is moved to the last named position, and means for returning the setting shaft to normal position from said last named position by the operation of said printing shaft.

8. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with a setting shaft and a printing shaft, the said setting shaft having two operative movements from the normal position, of locking devices controlling the printing shaft and including a pawl 9 and a ratchet 16, means controlling said pawl 9 including a cam 30, and a lever 34,

actuated thereby and adapted to engage the pawl 9 to lock the printing shaft.

9. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with a setting shaft, a printing shaft, and interlocking means interposed between said setting and printing shafts including the pawl 9 and ratchet 16, of means for preventing the setting shaft from being returned to normal position during the operation of the printing shaft including a disk 46 on said setting shaft, a drum 38 on the printing shaft, and a lever ll interposed between said disk 46 and drum 38.

10. In mechanism of the character specified, the combination with a setting shaft and a printing shaft, the former being movable from a normal to two operative positions, of locking pawl 9 for said printing shaft released when said setting shaft is moved to its second position, means actuated by the printing shaft to return said setting shaft to normal position, and means including a locking member 38, and arm 40 on lever 4:1 for locking the setting shaft during the operation of the printing shaft.

11. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with a setting shaft and a printing shaft, the former shaft being movable to two operative positions, of means for returning said setting shaft to normal position from its second operative position by the printing shaft including gears 26 and :27, interlocking means including pawls 6 and 9 controlled by the setting shaft for releasing the printing shaft when the setting shaft is moved to the second operative position, and interlocking means controlled by the printing shaft during the operation thereof to lock said setting shaft during the printing operation of said printing shaft.

12. In mechanism of the character specified, the combination of setting mechanism including a shaft, printing mechanism including a shaft, locking means for the setting shaft, locking means for the printing shaft under the control of the setting shaft, the locking means for the setting shaft being under the control of the printing shaft, and gears 26 and 27 interposed between said setting and printing shafts and operated from the printing shaft to return the setting shaft to normal position after each printing operation of said printing shaft.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures, in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN F. OHMER. WILLIAM G. ORTH.

\Vitnesses MLLLm GALLOWAY, IVIATTHEW SEIBLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

